The Long County baseball team on Wednesday fell, 5-3, at Claxton in non-region action.  
The contest was tight through three innings. The Tide took a 3-2 lead into the fourth, but the Tigers scored in the fourth and sixth innings for the win.
Blue Tide starting pitcher Clay Strickland went four innings, striking out three batters and allowing seven hits and four runs, two of which were earned. Ryan McGowan pitched two innings, giving up two hits and one run, while walking and striking out three batters.
Claxton pitcher Wyatt Sapp got the win after going the distance and allowing nine hits.
The Blue Tide’s Cody Fleck and Phillip Swindell each batted 2 for 3. Austin Mills, Zach Duncan and Strickland each had one hit.
Long County coach Tyler Rogers said his team played OK against Claxton, but still is struggling with offensive execution.  
With the loss, the Blue Tide fell to 6-6 overall and remained 3-3 in Region 2-AA.
Long County was scheduled to host Metter High School on Thursday. Results were not available at press time.  
At 7:30 tonight, the Blue Tide host another big region game against Bryan County, who, according to MaxPreps.com, is 1-6 overall and 0-6 in the region.  
Though Long County has dominated the series with Bryan County in recent seasons, Bryan County last year won a competitive game, 10-6.
Anderson commented on the importance of both of these games.
“They both are at home so that helps, but they are both very big games for us in the region if we want to stay in the playoff hunt,” he said.